NASCAR - Richmond

Richmond Saturday night - All races should be night races, always so unpredictable and the track is constantly changing, forcing the teams to keep up with the changing temperatures through out the race. To top it off tonight it was a full moon and the wolves were howling tonight.  A couple of late race incidents, resulted in a couple of hot heads. Tony Stewart and Matt Kenseth both had an issue with Kurt Busch's aggressive driving moves. 10 cautions littered the race tonight. The last one coming with just 8 laps to go as Juan Pablo Montoya watch his opportunity to win his first oval race go out the window. Kevin Harvick living up to his reputation of "Where did he come from", was coming fast catching Juan, but it would of been a close finish, but we will never know now. Kevin Harvick drove his way from 7th after the late caution restart, straight to the front.
Matt Kenseth last weeks winner in Kansas was handed down a pretty severe plenty after a connecting rod in his engine did not meet the minimum weight requirement. NASCAR fined him 50 driver points. Along with monetary fines, he also lost his Crew Chief for 6 weeks. Matt fell out of the top 12 to 14th in the Race for the Chase, gaining 1 position with 7th place finish today. As of now he would make the Chase in the 11th position with his 2 wins.
Joe Gibbs Racing was fined even more severely, their license has been suspended and they not only lost 50 owner points for Kansas, but cannot receive any points at all for the next 6 weeks.

Congratulations Kevin Harvick!!! "Where did he come from" is back. Getting your first win of the season and climbing 2 positions in the Race for the Chase into the 10 in 9th. Keeping you nose clean and missing all the wrecks, just driving around, no one notices you until you have already climbed into the top 5 and are moving fast. Sneaking up not only on first place, but all the announcers also. Way to go!!!

Top Ten Recap:
1. Kevin Harvick - started 17 - up 2 positions to 9th
2. Clint Bowyer - started 5 - up 3 positions to 5th
3. Joey Lagano - started 7 - up 3 positions to 17th
4. Juan Pablo Montoya - started 6 - up 3 positions to 24th
5. Jeff Burton - started 16 - up 4 positions to 19th
6. Carl Edwards - started 28 - up 4 positions to 2ne
7. Matt Kenseth - started 1 - up 1 position to 13th
8. Aric Almirola - started 34 - up 1 position to 11th
9. Kurt Busch - started 14 - up 3 positions to 20
10. Dale Earnhardt Jr. - started 19 - up 1 position to 4th

Race for the Chase:
1. Jimmie Johnson - finished 12th
2. Carl Edwards - finished 6th - up 4 positions
3. Kasey Kahne - finished 21st - down 1 position
4. Dale Earnhardt Jr. - finished 10th - up 1 position
5. Clint Bowyer - finished 2nd - up 3 positions
6. Brad Keslowski - finished 33rd - down 3 positions
7. Kyle Busch - finished 24th
8. Greg Biffle - finished 36th - down 4 positions
9. Kevin Harvick - WINNER - up 2 positions
10. Paul Menard - finished 13th - down 1 position
11. Aric Almirola - finished 8th - up 1 position
12. Jamie McMurray - finished 26th - down 2 positions

Matt Kenseth in 13th position would be the 11th place wild card with 2 wins so far the is year, Aric Almirola would move into the 12th position and Jamie McMurray would be eliminated.

Next race: Talladega Motor Speedway - Aarons 499 - Sunday - May 5, 2013 - 1pm est

Have a Wonderful Week!!!
Take Care
Barbara

NASCAR - Kansas

Kansas was just plain old racing today. Some strategies but just racing, everyone pretty much stayed in their own space. Kyle Busch did not have the luck he had last weekend when he swept Texas. After spinning in the very beginning of the race everything just got worse. Matt Kenseth was the driver to beat, taking the pole and being the fastest in practice, he just kept the momentum going until the finish. Kasey Kahne came alive during the last laps and Jimmie Johnson was a threat for most of the race, leading a couple of times. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. a rookie this year even lead the race his first start at Kansas. A late caution just as Ricky and Dale Earnhardt Jr. were finishing there last pit stop, rendered them 11th and 16th respectfully. They were both in the top 5 before pitting.

Congratulations Matt Kenseth!!! Good job,. you were out front most all day. You had the car to beat and no one succeeded. Being the only Gibbs Toyota to not have any problems all day, you made sure your car came out on top. Good going...



Top Ten Recap:
1. Matt Kenseth - started 1 - up 2 positions to 8th
2. Kasey Kahne - started 27 - up 5 positions to 2nd
3. Jimmie Johnson - started 21 - remains Leader
4. Martin Truex Jr. - started 7 - up 5 positions to 14th
5. Clint Bowyer - started 10 - down 1 position to 9th
6. Brad Keslowski - started 33 - up 1 position to 6th
7. Jamie McMurray - started 14 - up 1 position to 11th
8. Aric Almirola - started 6 - remains in 13th
9. Mark Martin - started 8 - up 2 positions to 16th
10. Paul Memard - started 12 - down 1 position to 10th

Race for the Chase:
1. Jimmie Johnson - finished 3rd
2. Kasey Kahne - finished 2nd - up 5 positions
3. Brad Keslowski - finished 6th - up 1 position
4. Greg Biffle - finished 19th - down 1 position
5. Dale Earnhardt Jr. - finished 16th - up 1 position
6. Carl Edwards - finished 17th - down 1 position
7. Kyle Busch - finished 38th - down 5 positions
8. Matt Kenseth - WINNER - up 2 positions
9. Clint Bowyer - finished 5th - down 1 position
10. Paul Menard - finished 10th - down 1 position
11. Jamie McMurray - finished 7th - up 1 position
12. Kevin Harvick - finished 12th - down 1 position

All positions in the changed this week with the exception of Jimmie Johnson.. Clint Bowyer and Paul Menard both finished in the 10 and still each lost 1 position...tough point system.
Kasey Kahne coming through with a 2nd place finished was the biggest mover up. Moving up 5 positions to 2nd.
Kyle Busch after a very bad day was biggest mover down. Moving down 5 positions from 2nd to 7th switching positions with Kasey.

Next race - Richmond - Toyota Owners 400 - Saturday April 27, 2013 - 7:30 pm est
Love night racing!!!

Have a Wonderful Weekend!!!
Take Care
Barbara

NASCAR - Texas

Congratulaitons!!! Kyle Busch

Texas Sweep!!!
Sorry no post for the Texas race. Had a couple of family members in Connecticut that were sick and made a quick trip up there and didn't get to watch much of the race and did a lot of running around.
Back this week though.... stay tuned

NASCAR - Martinsville

Martinsville - Short track racing is always fun to watch. Who is going to "tap" who is the name of the game. There was plenty of that going around today. No one really pissed anyone off, just hard racing. Jimmie Johnson was strong all day long. He was the dominate factor of the race. Dale Earnhardt Jr. started the race strong and seemed to be Johnson's biggest competitor, coming through the pack up into the top 5, but after being banged up, they just couldn't get the car right, rendering him to a 24th place finishing dropping 2 positions in the points. This was the first race Dale Jr. finished out of the top ten. Mark Martin took over the 11 car for Denny Hamlin this race, finishing in 10th today. Brian Vickers will take over the 11 car next week.   Danica Patrick posted a 12th place finish her first time on the Martinsville track. Going down a lap after Joe Nemechek spun her out, she made her was back on the lead lap and even though she a couple more run ins she held her own.

Congratulations Jimmie Johnson!!! Eighth win at Martinsville seems you just might have this track mastered. Dominating the race, taking the pole, leading 346 laps and winning. Being a Dale Jr. I have one question for you... You couldn't just let Dale Jr. go instead of going by him after he cut a tire and spun out, The rest of the field was courteous even to let him go, except you putting him down 2 laps instead... He is your teammate, or does that not mean anything to you, after he pushed you to 2 wins on super speedway tracks.
Top Ten Recap:
1. Jimmie Johnson - started 1 - up 2 positions to Leader
2. Clint Bowyer - started 15 - up 6 positions to 8th
3. Jeff Gordon - started 6 - up 6 positions to 12th
4. Kasey Kahne - started 5 - up 2 positions to 5th
5. Kyle Busch - started 11 - up 2 positions to 4th
6. Brad Keslowski - started 7 - remains in 2nd
7. Jamie McMurray - started 13 - up 3 positions to 13
8. Marcos Ambrose - started 2 - up 3 positions to 20th
9. Greg Biffle - started 22 - down 1 position to 6th
10. Mark Martin - started 35 - up 4 positions to 21st

Race for the Chase:
1. Jimmie Johnson - WINNER - up 2 positions
2. Brad Keslowski - finished 6th
3. Dale Earnhardt Jr. - finished 24th - down 2 positions
4. Kyle Busch - finished 5th - up 2 positions
5. Kasey Kahne - finished 4th - up 2 positions
6. Greg Biffle - finished 9th - down 1 position
7. Carl Edwards - finished 15th - down 3 positions
8. Clint Bowyer - finished 2nd - up 6 positions
9. Paul Menard - finished 19th - down 1 position
10. Matt Kenseth - finished 14th - up 1 position
11. Joey Lagano - finished 23rd - down 2 positions
12. Jeff Gordon - finished 3rd - up 6 positions

Clint Bowyer and Jeff Gordon were the biggest movers up - both up 6 positions to 8th and 12th respectfully. Kurt Busch lost the most positions, 6 also after a fire under his hood ended his race with just 13 laps left giving him a 37th place finish. 22 cars finished on the lead lap...with only 8 cars actually off the track

Next race: Texas Motor Speedway - NRA 500 - Saturday, April 13, 2013 - 7:30pm est Night Racing Yeah!!!

Have a Wonderful Week
Take Care
Barbara